The original version of this article first appeared on ExplorersWeb.
On Friday, October 4, Kilian Jornet topped out on Mount Rainier, marking the successful completion of his States of Elevation project. The Spanish mountaineer and ultrarunner has climbed all 72 accessible 14,000-foot peaks in the contiguous United States. His scorchingly quick journey began on September 3 at Longs Peak, Colo.
Over 31 grueling days, Jornet covered more than 3,106 miles (5,000 km). He linked summits across Colorado, California, and Washington through a blend of running and cycling, all under his own power.
The project saw Jornet tackle an average of over 100 miles (160 km) daily — equivalent to Tour de France stages — while ascending technical routes like the LA Freeway and Nolan’s 14. With minimal sleep, often just 4.5 hours per night, he navigated extreme conditions. He endured conditions ranging from desert heat exceeding 100 degrees F (38 degrees C) to subzero temperatures on Rainier.
Jornet’s approach emphasized the journey itself, as he noted the “quiet miles” and “shared ridges” between peaks.
The October 4 ascent of 14,409-foot (4,392m) Mount Rainier culminated a grueling month-long odyssey. This project was built on his past feats, including 2024’s linkup of the Alps’ 82 peaks above 13,123 feet (4,000 m) in 19 days.
More on Kilian Jornet’s historic achievement will follow as details about the States of Elevation project emerge.
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